Marikana – In its efforts to deliver integrated services, North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlement in collaboration with Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development are delivering houses which will have food security project at the Marikana area in Rustenburg Local Municipality.

More than R130 million worth housing project, which is intended to rebuild the lives of the community of Marikana as well as the change the face of the area, has been kick-started. Once the houses are complete, vegetable gardens will be made before they are handed over to beneficiaries, so that the families can sustain themselves.

MEC Collen Maine says is much satisfied about the progress registered on 1^st phase of the 2658 housing units which will be build in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and is confident that the contractors would complete the project on scheduled August deadline.

“As the Department we are pleased with the progress in project and we are looking forward to its completion. The contractor has been given strict quality measures which they must stick to. Several slaps have already been built by some of the Marikana residents who have been employed in the project so that we also teach them how to build houses. When the project is complete some of them would will have acquired certain skills which they will use to make a living”, said MEC Maine.

The Marikana housing project is part of Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal of Bokone Bophirima Province. Phase 1 is currently underway which entails 252 Community Residential Units (CRUs) and 292 Breaking New Ground (BNGs) type of houses. Other phases will be rolled out throughout the MTEF.

A team led by the Acting Head of Department of Local Government and Human Settlements, Moss Kgantsi and Head of the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development  Dr Pontsho Mokaila met recently at Marikana area to facilitate integrated approach which include food security in the area.

MEC Maine emphasized the importance of integrated approach to the Marikana housing project. “These communities will obviously need to sustain themselves long after the houses have been built hence the involvement of the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development. They must at least have a garden in their yard to produce food for their families once they have been allocated houses”, he said.

The project is part of the intervention by Bokone Bophirima Province to transform Marikana which is poverty stricken. The plight of the Marikana residents was highlighted after the death of 34 miners during the unprotected strike at Lonmin Platinum Mine during August 2012. Lack of important service such as housing, were listed as those that needs to be fast tracked to communities. The area also has high levels of poverty and unemployment rate.

-TDN

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Schweizer-Reneke – The Department of Local Government and Human Settlements has invested R2 million to change the face of at least four municipalities in Bokone Bophirima, a Youth in Waste Management Project which started mid last year.

The project which is the brainchild of the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements has benefitted at least four local municipalities, namely Tswaing, Maquassi Hills, Mamusa and Moretele local municipalities and is to end in March 2015.

The project is funded through the Department of Public Works’ Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) Grant and has employed at least 100 young people from these municipalities and they receive a monthly stipend of R1640.

At the completion of the project, these young people will receive certificates of competence in basic waste management. Furthermore, a prize will be awarded to the cleanest community where the beneficiaries were deployed.

The project is set to assist municipalities raise awareness about waste management, encourage youth to take part in waste management ventures, forge partnership of stakeholders to provide resources for the implementation of the project, whilst creating temporary employment. The project focuses on waste management, i.e. waste recycling or removal in areas such as schools, sidewalks, parks, central business district (CBD) etc.

“Once this programme is rolled out successfully in these four (4) municipalities, we will engage with the Department of Public Works to avail more funds for it (project) to be extended to other municipalities. The daily running of the project will be monitored by designated waste officers at the municipality level and they will be supported by the Department, said MEC Collen Maine.

Cape Town – The political “silly season” is upon us, as the battle for control of the ANC in the Western Cape begins.

ANC members are gearing up for regional and provincial conferences which have, in recent years, been marred by infighting and factional feuds.

ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile conceded that conference periods were usually associated with a “crazy, naughty and silly season” in all political parties.

But he urged members to “play nice”.

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A policeman shot dead his wife and 28-year-old son before killing himself in Tloung Village, Mahikeng, North West police said on Tuesday.

BY STAFF REPORTER
THE residents of Dryharts village, near Taung are ‘gatvol’ about the being dissipated by some of nurses at Dryharts clinic.

They were so berserk and decided to write a letter to the North West Department of Health regarding stinging behavior from those nurses.

According to some of patients, the nurses ill-treat them daily and drag their feet when helping them. Our crew visited the clinic on Monday and to the shock of our lives, we found close to 30 patients, mostly elderly on the queue waiting to be helped at around 13:40 while two of the nurses enjoying their launch outside.

One of the patients, Agente Motsewabone(56) said it is normal for them to arrive at the clinic at around 07:00 in the morning and will be helped at around 15:00 afternoon.

North West Department of Health spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane confirmed that his department received calls and a letter from concerned residents of Dryharts regarding treatment dished out by some of the nurses at the clinic and does not take that issue very lightly.

“Yes we can confirm that we have received numerous calls and letters from various residents from Dryharts complaining about being ill-treated by some of the nurses during consultation.

“We have discussed a way forward regarding the issue and one of reasons that contributes to poor service rendered at the clinics around the province is shortage of staff at most clinics” Lekgethwane said.

Another victim of bad treatment by Dryharts clinic staff is Veronica Rakoi(45) who said they nurses insult them when rendering service to them.

“It is true and we’re sick and tired of the nurses at the clinic…they must be changed and the department must bring people who are passionate about their work. One will arrive there early, but the nurses will take their own time to help you and some of us can’t spend the whole day without eating” Rakoi said.

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Pic: Chairperson of Portfolio Committee, Boitumelo Moiloa, NEC member for Sanco, Motlalepule Rosho and Dr Tutu Faleni

BY STAFF REPORTER
TAUNG- THE Portfolio Committee on Basic education in the North West province visited Seoleseng Secondary School in Vaaltyn village, near Taung on Friday to assess the state of readiness for the 2015 school year as well as monitoring teaching and learning progress so far.

Some of those who were part of the visit were Chairwoman of the Portfolio Committee, Boitumelo Moiloa, Members of the Portfolio Committee Motlalepule Rosho and Jeanett Dibetso-Nyathi.

The Portfolio Committee visited the school after its re-opening. The school was closed by. The department of Education in North West, but reversed their decision after the community embarked on a protest.

The visit also seek the investigation that led to the department of Education in their attempt to close down the school due to rationalization.

The Chairwoman of the Portfolio Committee, Boitumelo Moiloa said she hope that viable solutions will be found.

The Portfolio Committee interacted with the interim principal of the school, School Governing Body members(SGB), Circuit Manager Mojakhudu Dithejane and concerned members of South African Civic Organisation(Sanco).

“What is important to this committee is ensuring that children of this country receive quality education that will unlock doors of prosperity and meaningfully contribute to the fight against the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and equality” she said.

According to Circuit Manager, Mojakhudu Dithejane the school has only four teachers including principal and two of the teachers have only primary qualifications.

The qualifications of teachers came to light after Grade 10 was introduced at the school, but Dithejane said the school was granted that opportunity temporarily.

“The school was granted to have Grade 10 temporarily and we will monitor the school and take decision afterwards. The school has only four teachers including the principal and some of them have only primary qualifications, but we decided to workshop them until their contracts come to the ends as most of them are of foreign nations” Dithejane said.

However the South African Civic Organisation said the department must come up with strategic plan to see that those 120 pupils at the school receive quality education.

“The department must make sure that they hire more teachers so that those pupils receive quality education. We welcome Portfolio Committee’s oversight visit and hope that when they bring feedback, it will be positive” Sanco Coordinator in the province, James Gadinabokao said.

Portfolio Committee member, Jeanett Dibetso-Nyathi said the committee will also visit underperforming schools within the identified districts to ensure that major shortcomings do not recur in the 2015 school year.

TAUNG- MEC for Tourism in the North West Desbo Mohono officially opened the Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre on Monday. The Institution which has already started with the students intake will operate at full steam as from the beginning of March this year. Thus far 30 students have already being admitted for the academic year and the possibility of admitting more towards the middle of the year is envisaged.

According to MEC Mohono the institution will bring socio-economic revolution to the people of Taung, more especially among women and the youth. She said that people of Taung should be jealous about the institution as it will be a hallmark which the future generation will be proud of. “The opening of this institution further gives impetus approach in seriously championing the issues affecting our youth in general. All affected spheres of government on youth development issues have to radically implement ways and means that will lure our youth to have hunger for education. This is the only way in giving them freedom to a better life,” said the elated Mohono.

MEC Mohono further said that the institution will focus on the education and training of skills and competencies that are required to grow the tourism economy of the North West Province. The institution will also bring an added economic momentum to the Taung region with additional employment opportunities as well as boosting local businesses.

Neonyana Morolong is one of the students admitted for this academic year. She said that she was grateful that she is one of the first students to be admitted and hope to finish her studies in record time. The 35 year old mother of three wants to be a professional chef and finally end up owning her own professional restaurant in Taung.

Meanwhile, MEC Mohono was supported by the local Taung Mayor Kaone Lobelo and Chief Tshepo Mankurwane of the Batlhaping boo Phuduhutswana and the Acting Mayor of Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality Mme Kelebogile Serei who both called for corporation and coordination among government institutions around Taung. They said that through communication and pulling together buy government institutions as one, the institutions will yield positive results and create a booming economy for the people of Taung. They both hailed the gesture by government and further gave it thumps up.

Learners will be offered practical courses of Professional Cookery; Food, Beverage and Accommodation Services for this academic year. The institution will further introduce additional courses by June this year, which will include the Higher Education programmes in Tourism and Hospitality Management. The expansion in curriculum will also be realised as additional infrastructure and the necessary lecturing and support staff will have been appointed.

The infrastructure will be known as the PENTAGON and will house the administration block, lecturers offices, lecture blocks, male and female students residences, a chapel, an auditorium, students canteen, libraries and reading rooms and many others.

Mbombela – An Mpumalanga councillor has been arrested in connection with a clash between members of the ANC and the SACP that left 10 people hospitalised, police said on Monday.

Kanyamazane police spokesperson Andries Shikwambane told a Sapa correspondent that a member of Mbombela local municipality’s mayoral committee was arrested at his home on Monday.

“I can confirm that two people have been arrested for the violence that took place at Kanyamazane on 25 January. The two have been charged with malicious damage to property,” said Shikwambane.

By 16:30 on Monday, the councillor had not yet appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court because police and prosecutors were still waiting for his co-accused to arrive from Barberton, where he was arrested on Monday.

The incident, which made headlines, took place when people wearing ANC T-shirts violently disrupted a memorial lecture where former ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa and SACP provincial secretary Bonakele Majuba were expected to speak in Kanyamazane on 25 January.

The SACP memorial lecture about SACP stalwart Joe Slovo and slain former Mbombela municipal speaker Jimmy Mohlala had to be called off when the people clad in ANC T-shirts stormed the Kanyamazane community hall, assaulting SACP members and also vandalising the hall as well as cars belonging to SACP members.

Johannesburg – The case of a 45-year-old warrant officer who allegedly caused an accident while under the influence of alcohol was postponed in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court, The Hawks said on Monday.

Spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said the case was postponed until 13 July as the court waited for the blood results of Warrant Officer George Lantu to be released.

The officer was on duty at the time of the accident and using a state vehicle.

He was arrested on Friday after he tried to flee the scene.

“[He] was restrained by traffic officials until his arrest by police,” Mulaudzi said.

Cape Town – Exactly two years after the death of Bredasdorp teen Anene Booysen, the Western Cape town has been rocked by another death, according to reports.

Police uncovered the body of Kayda Williams, 5-year-old girl, is a bushy area in the town on Monday after she was reported missing on Sunday.

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